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Milly blinked a few times before looking at the restaurant and then back at us. She leaned in as if to whisper, but was just as loud as before. “What does your father think about this? It looks a little bad with his construction team helping with the build,” she stated. “I can’t believe Matthew was okay with such a project.”
“Matthew does what he does when he does it,” Daddy hollered from across the street, making Milly jump a little. She turned to see Daddy in his hard hat with his big, toothy grin. He tipped his hat toward Milly, who instantly blushed.
Daddy had that effect on many women in town. He could make even the meanest ones bashful from his charm. They acted as if he was the small-town version of Shemar Moore. The other day, I overheard a woman say she’d love my father to take his sledgehammer to pound town against the bush between her legs. Add that to my nifty list of reasons to seek out trauma therapy.
“Good morning, Matthew.” Milly waved in his direction.
“Morning, Milly. That workout set looks good on you,” he flirted, making Avery and me roll our eyes.
Milly smoothed her hands over her set. “Oh, this old thing? I found it at Goodwill for ten bucks.”
One thing about us Midwest folks: when we found an item for a good deal, we would spread the news to anyone who’d listen.
“Ten bucks got you looking like a ten,” Daddy replied with a wink.
“Kill me now,” Avery muttered, nudging me.
Milly grew even more flustered and waved Daddy off. “Oh, Matthew Kingsley, stop it right this instant and get back to work.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said before he gave Avery and me a sarcastic wink. It was essential to know the difference between Daddy’s winks. They all held specific meanings. The one he’d just delivered to us said, “Dang nosy Milly being rude as ever.”
Milly cleared her throat. “Your father is something else, ladies.”
“We hear that a lot,” I said.
“Is it true he went out with Laura Wilkes last weekend for dinner?” she asked, leaning in closer, still not whispering.
“We like to stay out of our father’s business,” Avery said sternly. “Everyone’s business, for that matter.”
Milly nodded. “Yes, me too. I'm not too fond of gossips. They always have some words on their lips, yet nothing but hot air comes out. Okay, girls, I better get moving before my heart rate drops too much. Just watch out for that Alex Ramírez. Cocaine brownies are a real issue. I’ll write down that YouTube address for you to watch the documentary. Bye-bye!”
“Bye, Milly,” Avery and I said in unison, waving her away.
Avery made a gagging sound once Milly was out of viewpoint.
“So about the bad seed being back in town,” I started. Don’t get me wrong, Nathan wasn’t awful. He was always kind to me and my sisters, too. But he was our town’s bad boy when we were younger. I figured Avery fell for him because of his charm, wit, and filthy tongue.
“Don’t bring him up,” Avery warned.
“Avery…”
Her whole posture tensed up, and she shook her head as she stared at an invisible watch on her wrist. “Well, will you look at that? It’s about time I head to the high school. I have to set up in the gym before practice later today.” Not only was Avery the head coach of the baseball team, but during the school year, she was the head of the physical education department.
She hopped to her feet, which was a clear sign that screamed, “I’m not talking about Nathan Pierce today, Yara.”
I received her message loud and clear, but I knew we’d have to revisit it at some point. Our town was too small to pretend Nathan wouldn’t run into Avery sooner than later.
“Fine, fine. I’ll see you later,” I agreed.
Avery snuggled the three dogs one last time before walking off in the opposite direction of me. Avery hated most people but strongly loved dogs—my kind of girl. People had a way of letting each other down more than dogs ever had.
“Bye, Daddy!” she hollered as she waved across the street.
“Have a good day, girls,” Daddy replied, waving to us both.
As I waved back, the owner, Alex, walked outside. He said something to Daddy and gestured toward the almost hung sign.
I sat straight and tilted my head toward Alex. He dressed in all black and stood with broad shoulders. He had a perfectly trimmed beard and dark brown hair that was somewhat long on top but shaved shorter on the sides. He hovered over Daddy, which was surprising, seeing as how Daddy was almost six-foot-two. The man crossed his arms over his chest and had an intensity in his stare as he listened to Daddy update him on the project. He nodded once before glancing across the street toward me.
